1930s Trick Marionette Theater - Antique Footage

The theataire and marionettes is modeled on Vittorio Podrecca’s world famous touring theatre les Piccoli, or Teatro dei Piccoli - The Little(s)/The Theatre of the Small/Theatre of the Little Ones - as built by one of Podrecca’s students and fans Wentworth D. Fling.
Sorry if the music could be jumpier but it was one of the few free and legal choices on youtube. Plus, it's Bach, and it's played on strings, STRINGS, STRINGS!!!, so.

[@huberpuppet]

Thank you for sharing this. I found it fascinating. His influence by European puppeteers is evident in many nuances that were not generally seen in American trick marionettes of the period. I am so pleased that you are working on preserving these puppets & stage. Here is a little-known puppeteer whose work was almost lost to the ages. I wish you all success with this endeavor.

[@TheRubyFeline]

This is wonderful!

[@LoleeFox]

I am so excited to see this comment- I watched this video several times during the winter and just came back to watch again. It is one of the most beautiful and magical pieces of film I've seen. And now to see the name Wilfred Deweese, who shares my last name, attached to this! Do you have any other information about Wilfred? I'd really like to do some research to find out more about him. Cheers, and thanks, Christopher DeWeese

[@JohannaMonkey]

This is fascinating and beautiful. I'm currently researching puppetry post World War One, and pre World War Two. Where did Mr. Fling perform? Where was he from?

[@FoxMilo]

@huberpuppet Thanks for the vote of confidence. One of the interesting things about the theater is that it was "the largest marionette theater in the United States" during at least the 1930s. Its dimensions are based on the largest marionette theater in the world from the same period, les Piccoli. Les Piccoli was run by an Italian puppeteer in Paris, as far as my research goes so far. My theater is 15 feet tall, 22 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, with the bridge at least 8 ft tall.

[@FoxMilo]

Wentworth Fling and Wilfred Deweese toured up and down the midwest out of their home town of Lincoln, NE - hence the name Lincoln Marionettes. They did this for several years or so, then Wentworth Fling went on to be an electrical engineer for the rest of his long career. I really need to put some subtitles into the video... coming eventually soon!

[@PuppetVision]

This is fascinating footage. Where did you get it?

[@JeanMarcZelwer]

thanks a lot

[@FoxMilo]

Hi Christoper, all I've learned of Wilfred DeWeese is that he and Wentworth Fling were good friends, and when Wentworth returned from Europe he or they built the theater and trick puppets from the meticulous notes and diagrams Wentworth took from the European puppet masters he had met and studied with. Email me and I can send you Wentworth's son's email address - he might know more about the actual town's name they lived in.

[@diegoguzmantiteres]

Excuse me, are these the Podrecca puppets?

[@FoxMilo]

+diego guzman These are Wentworth Fling's puppets directly based on the Podrecca puppets. Fling studied with Podrecca in Paris and then built his own theater and puppets in Lincoln, IL based on Podrecca's techniques and measurements.

[@paulglover8852]

Great video but change the music...this Bach piece doesn't suit the action at all...try Delibes etc

[@dancingfaeries]

WTF THAT'S CREEPY!!!!!! O.O